Rickie: Gerrard will always pick you out
Rickie Lambert admits he's come a long way from cheering on Steven Gerrard as a supporter to latching onto the midfielder's passes and celebrating crucial goals with the captain.
Gerrard side-footed Liverpool into the lead against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday night after Adam Lallana's instinctive drive cancelled out the Foxes' opener in the clash.
The skipper was composed and clinical as he arrived in the penalty area to steer beyond Kasper Schmeichel before setting off in the direction of the Reds' travelling contingent, joy etched onto his features.
Lambert raced to congratulate him - and when Jordan Henderson sped to the same corner of the stadium having made it 3-1 later in the game, the Reds were toasting back-to-back wins.
"It was a great little finish from Steven," Lambert told the Liverpool Echo. "He is Mr Cool in those situations and he always has been.
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"I am enjoying playing with him, very much so, after years of watching him - and long may it continue. He has got more than enough in the tank. He is still one of the best players around for me.
"Obviously he is not going to play every single game, but that is what he can do. He is one of those players who can play in multiple positions but if he is closer to me, he is a top, top player so it makes my game easier.
"His all-round play, his vision, everything about him. When he has got the ball he is going to put it into the area you want. Whether he is closer to me or further it makes no difference, he is always going to put it where you want."
Lambert made a fourth consecutive start for the Reds against Leicester, having scored in successive matches against Crystal Palace and Ludogorets Razgrad, before lining up for the team's return to winning ways against Stoke City.
The game against the Foxes was his 15th appearance since making the switch to his boyhood club from Southampton in the summer - and the No.9 insists he's determined to extend his run in the side.
"I am absolutely loving it," said Lambert. "I am fighting for my place and I am fighting to keep that shirt as long as I can now.
"I said a couple of weeks ago that we needed to get back to basics, win our battles, and I think we have done that in the last two games. Our ability shone through. We went behind again [against Leicester] and showed character to come back, so it's full credit to the boys."